Lowes names Bagnaia as the man to beat in Moto2 2018

Britain’s Sam Lowes returns to the Moto2 grid with a KTM under him this weekend in Qatar and feels that he has a point to prove but must first deal with the challenge of Pecco Bagnaia, who Lowes believes will be his main rival this season.

Lowes was unceremoniously dumped from the Aprilia MotoGP team halfway through his two-year contract but immediately found a home with the Interwetten CarXpert team, now rebranded as Swiss Innovative Investors which secured backing from KTM, and at the final Jerez test, Lowes topped the combined times.

Lowes also believes the two works KTMs, with Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira on board, will prove strong as will the Marc VDS duo of Alex Marquez and Joan Mir.

“For me Bagnaia is the main guy. He’ll be there and he’ll be good. He’ll be in a good way, but I don’t know. I just feel like Bagnaia will be stronger. I think the two KTMs will be strong. Obviously I’ve got the same bike as them, so you feel confident in that situation,” said Lowes.

“VDS is a good team. Mir will be strong mid-way through the year for sure. Marquez, Bagnaia, Marini could be good. I could stand here and name the whole grid. I think a lot of guys some weekends will be really fast and some weekends not.

“Everyone on the grid – OK, Bagnaia, I’ve not raced against - but the other guys I’ve beaten them all before so there’s no reason why I can’t now. I feel good. I feel like I’m in a lot better position than I’ve been in the past.

“I feel like I’ve learned a lot. I’ve matured a lot, which is what you need to fight for a championship. This is my best chance since coming to this paddock four years ago. This is my best chance to win a world championship. I’ve got to go for it.”